2023 December List | 十二月清單

Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights

https://cincinnatizoo.org

This light festival is worth every penny! It attracts quite the crowd. We came here every weekend in December. The cold weather and the colorful lights really bring out the holiday cheers!

這燈會值回票價，但人也特別多。可能是天冷，特別有節日氣氛！12月，我們幾乎每週都報到，就知道我們有多愛。

Truva Turkish Kitchen

http://truvaturkishkitchen.com/

Hard to find restaurants in Cincinnati that both UN and I won’t stop talking about. Truva is one that we both agree that we will go back to again and again. Everything from the atmosphere, to the quality of the foods, to the level of service, simply beyond reproach. Their portions are shareable with friends, but they also have individual sized options.

在辛辛那提能找到我和UN都愛的餐廳不太簡單，但Truva是我們一出餐廳就説下次絕對會在回來用餐。從餐廳用餐氛圍、美味可口的食物、熱情貼心的服務，完全踩不到雷。份量非常適合一群朋友一起分享，個人點餐也有單點選擇。

Carabello Coffee

107 E 9th St, Newport, KY 41071
https://www.carabellocoffee.com/

My friend M organized this winter only coffee tasting activity for us. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep after, but I slept like a baby! Chayne is our barista, he curated the different types of coffee and paired each one with some music and little games. Carabello Coffee has been doing coffee tasting for the past 8 years. No ads, only by word of mouth. Yet they attract coffee connoisseurs from all over the country!

朋友M真的有夠會找活動！冬季限定的咖啡品嚐活動，一開始我有點擔心會不會喝帶多咖啡晚上睡不著，結果晚上睡超好！Chayne是我們的老師，他煮出不同的咖啡，還配合音樂和小遊戲，真的很適合一群朋友一起來。Carabello Coffee已經舉辦這個咖啡品嚐活動八年了，不太打廣告的咖啡店，全是朋友介紹來的，就知道大家有多喜歡。連朋友的表哥在丹佛開咖啡店都特別來這裡品嚐咖啡！

Rusk Kitchen and Bar

https://ruskcincy.com/

The salmon Banh Mi that I ordered was … ordinary! I rarely give out this kind of review, but their sandwiches are no better than homemade! Good thing they have delicious cocktails.

我點的鮭魚越南三明治實在太...普通了！我真的很少這樣評價，但這三明治水準就像我在家隨便準備的感覺！但我點的Love Juice調酒特別又好喝！

Museum of Natural History and Science

https://www.cincymuseum.org/sciencemuseum/

This city never fails to surprise me! The Museum of Natural History and Science has many exhibits. Even its building is full of history! I want to get annual passes for the girls, so much fun here!

每次都被我們這城市驚艷！人文歷史科學館有超多東西可以看，外面建築也是滿滿歷史！過幾個月我一定要幫寶寶們辦年卡，這裡太好玩了！

Greater Cincinnati Japanese Restaurants Review | 大辛辛那提日本料理評比

（中文翻譯請往下滑）

Greater Cincinnati encompasses Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, and Southwest Ohio. Even though the Asian population is scarce here, we would always hear Japanese when we shop at the Costco in Northern Kentucky. After some investigation, I found out that Kentucky has the biggest Toyota plant in the US. At the No. 1 Children’s Hospital in the Nation, there are many Japanese researchers. Which led me to think, there must be some authentic Japanese restaurants! We were stoked when I found three Japanese restaurants near us! (Finally no more avocado and mayo/cream cheese sushis)

---

Matsuya Japanese Restaurant

7149 Manderlay Dr, Florence, KY 41042

Entering the restaurant transported us back to Okinawa. The daily recommendations are written in Japanese on a white board. I’m happy that I can still read some Japanese! The English and Japanese menu brings back so many great memories. The sushi chef chatted up his customers at the bar, and there’s a tatami dining area. The dishes that we ordered easily won the approval of our babies.

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant

Nagomijapaneserestaurant.com

Smaller portion, don’t ask if we got full. Like the other two Japanese restaurants, they serve hand rolls and sushi rolls.

Mei Japanese Restaurant 

http://www.meijapaneserestaurant.com/

This was the one Japanese restaurant I most looked forward to because of all the reviews. But maybe it got hyped up too much. I feel like the quality of the food does not justify the price. But I was still satisfied that I got to eat authentic Japanese cuisine. Btw, the minimum spend to get a private dining area is $100.

---

大辛辛那提區涵蓋北肯德基州、南印第安納州、俄亥俄州東南邊。雖然這帶亞洲人極度少，但我們常在北肯德基州的Costco聽到日文。於是我開啟偵探模式，發現這裡有Toyota美國中部最大廠。而在全美第一名的兒童醫院裡，有許多日本來的學者在做研究，我就想⋯這裡應該會有正宗日本料理吧！果然不出所料，被我找到三間道地日本料理店，讓我和UN都好開心！（終於不用吃酪梨壽司和奶酪壽司）

Matsuya Japanese Restaurant

7149 Manderlay Dr, Florence, KY 41042

一進去，感覺像回到沖繩。白板上用日文寫著今日特餐，好開心自己還能看懂日文字，菜單上一堆日英文參雜，真的太懷念了。師傅在吧檯邊做壽司邊和客人聊天，餐廳裡還有榻榻米區。這次點這幾道菜，寶寶們超捧場。平時不愛吃肉，今天卻把牛舌吃光（爸媽只能吃牛舌屑屑）。我點的壽司omakase，絕對是大辛辛那提裡最好吃的（三間裡價位最親民）。

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant 

Nagomijapaneserestaurant.com

份量偏小，別問我們有沒有吃飽！和另外兩家日本料理店一樣，都有握壽司和散壽司的選擇。用餐座位不多，建議打電話預約。

Mei Japanese Restaurant 

http://www.meijapaneserestaurant.com/

這家是我最期待的日料店，小紅書、Yelp都大力推薦，但可能被評論吵得太熱，我們有點失望，總覺得價位和食材沒有成正比。即使如此，我們還是很滿足能吃到道地日本料理。對了，包廂最低消是一百元美金。

---

先來給我們寶寶拍拍手一下！這幾家餐廳都特別安靜，我們一開始很擔心他們會在非常安靜的餐廳裡開始大聲發出聲音，沒想到完全被食物吸引，安靜的吃完桌上食物，只有最後大聲打飽嗝（笑）！大辛辛那提的日本料理選項不像美國東西岸一樣多，且價位偏貴，但在這地方能吃到道地日本料理真是小確幸！開心！

2022 November List | 十一月清單

October was confinement month. I stayed at home, fed the babies, and got fed (thanks to my mom and my in-laws). After confinement, life resumed as normal, and so did my monthly list!

十月是坐月子月，啥事都沒做（也沒有十月清單），天天在家餵寶寶和被餵食（感謝公婆和我媽）。月子出關後，生活開始正常運行，例行的每月清單當然不可少。

U. S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball | 美國海軍陸戰隊生日舞會

Another Marine Corps Birthday Ball! Happy 247th Birthday Marines! Every time I attend MC Birthday Ball, I am impressed by the Marines' dress uniform. After a two year hiatus, I’m excited to be able to celebrate MC Birthday again. We weren’t able to stay until the dance, but UN and I still had a blast!

又是一年一度的美國海軍陸戰隊的生日舞會，每次參加都會不停稱讚海軍陸戰隊的制服（每件都超好看！）因疫情關係，已經兩年停辦生日舞會，這次大家能聚再一起都非常興奮，雖然我們無法待到跳舞的部分，但我和UN都很開心能來這個活動。

OROBAE

14250 Culver Drive Suite #E, Irvine, CA 92604

I’m usually not a fan of boba, but I can sing OROABE’s praises all day long! UN calls himself a boba enthusiast, and he’s quite picky when it comes to boba. UN has confirmed that OROBAE is the best boba in business! We love OROBAE so much that we would bring our babies and stand in line when the craving is strong! If you have other recommendations for boba, please let us know!

首先聲明我對珍珠奶茶不太有興趣，但我對這家的珍奶讚不絕口。UN是珍奶愛好者，對珍奶特別挑，但這家是UN認證過（南加）最好喝的珍奶！我們好愛OROBAE，想喝時還是會不嫌麻煩的特別帶寶寶開車來這排隊買飲料！但如果有其他推薦的店，務必要告訴我們！

San Diego SeaWorld | 海洋公園

https://seaworld.com/san-diego
500 Sea World Dr., San Diego, CA 92109

When UN brought up the idea of bringing our babies to Sea World, my mom was in shock, but I was in favor! This mini trip is us testing the water to see how the babies will do and what we can do to prepare for longer trips in the future. Other than finding a place to feed the babies, everything else happened according to plan, definitely count as a success! We got pictures of the babies with dolphins, and they even got to watch orca show (they should be able to see the black and white orcas, lol!)

當UN提議我們帶寶寶們去Sea World時，我媽傻眼，而我一口答應。這次帶H和G出遊，完全是爸媽想試水溫，想知道以後出去玩有什麼需要改善。除了需要找地方餵食寶寶們以外，整體都在計畫之內，算是非常成功的小出遊。UN還讓寶寶們有機會和海豚照相、看殺人鯨表演（寶寶們應該可以看到黑白殺人鯨，哈哈哈哈！）

Wrench and Rodent

1815 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054
http://www.seabasstropub.com/

Grateful for grandparents watching over the babies, so that UN and I can go out for a date night. One of the top Japanese restaurants in O-side! Although their style is Americanized sushi, it's not your typical California roll, volcano roll type of sushi stuffed with avocado and cream cheese. Their chef creation rolls are delicious, and we also quite enjoyed their appetizers. Highly recommend hamachi kama (grilled yellowtail collar)!

感謝grandparents照顧寶寶，讓我和UN能一起出去吃飯。在Oside數一數二好吃的日料店！雖然風格走的是美式日本料理店，但絕不是一般的加州卷、火山卷這類滿滿酪梨和cream cheese的壽司店。創意壽司卷味道都很棒，小菜也很推，魚下巴也是我們很愛的一道。

Northside Shake

1255 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106
http://www.northsideshack.com/

Recommended by a friend, said they have the best açaí bowl in San Diego, I strongly agree! Overfilled with toppings, and taste spectacular! The storefront is small, so you’d have to eat in the car, but the quality of the ingredients used is well worth the drive!

朋友大推的，堪稱聖地牙哥最好吃的açaí bowl，我完全認同！料多到滿出來，味道不單調。雖然小小一間，只能在車子裡吃，但真材實料覺得開這麼遠來吃非常值得。